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COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Council heard the highlights of the County Commissioners plan for the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) plan during its first meeting of 2013 Tuesday.Commissioner Chairman George Schrumpf presented the plan to the council. There was a total fund availability of $1,563,536.77. The commissioners were authorized to make plans for only 75 percent of those funds. The total estimate for 2013 is $1,089,748.75, short of 75 percent. The difference between that amount and 75 percent is $82,903. Schrumpf said the difference should help, giving the county extra money in case some projects cost more than estimated.One discussed project was what portion of CEDIT money would be appropriated for the Whitley County Humane Shelter. Don Amber, vice-chairman for the commissioners said there should be something from the county for the shelter.Columbia City was able to give the shelter approximately $108 per animal. Amber said that the equivalent for the county at that same rate would come out to $22,788, since there were 211 county animals last year. There were some concerns over whether the county should be paying the same rate as others.Humane shelter representatives present at the meeting indicated that $108 was a fair rate considering the cost for an animal. The final motion was presented with money to be given to the shelter on a per-animal basis, with a final cost not to exceed $25,000. This motion passed by a 4-2 margin, with councilman Jim Bayman and Kim Wheeler opposing.An eventual goal would be to have the shelter receive funds as a line-item from the council, but that is a change that will come later if it occurs.The CEDIT plans are tentative and have to be approved by the council as they come up throughout the year.In other business, the council named its officers for the year 2013. Thomas Western was voted in as chairman and Kim Wheeler was voted as vice-chairman. The next meeting for the council is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.For a more in-depth look at this story, see the Jan. 9 issue of The Post and Mail. Don't have a subscription? Call (260) 244-5153 or subscribe to our e-edition. For breaking news, sports updates and additional coverage, bookmark the homepage and find us on facebook.